Maritime Stakeholders Seek National Coast Guard

To strengthen security on national inland waterways, maritime stakeholders have called on the Ministry of Blue Economy and the National Assembly to fast track the establishment of Coast Guard.

The stakeholders said the establishment of a functional National Coast Guard to police activities on the over 850 kilomeres inland waterways had been long overdue considering the importance of the sector to the country’s growth and development.

In a statement signed by Abdulazeez Ayodele Aloba and made available to journalists yesterday in Lokoja, he said the call followed a series of avoidable maritime incidents and persistent illegal activities across Nigeria’s waters.

He raised concerns over the absence of a specialised civil maritime body responsible for search and rescue, environmental monitoring, and law enforcement at the sea .

Aloba, a maritime security expert argued that the current structure leaves critical operational gaps, particularly in emergency response and inland waterway safety, thereby exposing citizens and economic assets to avoidable risks.

He disclosed that in a quest to have organised maritime security framework which dated back to February 16, 1914, with the formation of the Nigerian Merchant Navy Seafarers, marking the early foundations of maritime administration in the country.

Aloba said the outbreak of the Nigerian Civil War shifted national priorities toward military naval operations, leaving civil maritime safety functions largely underdeveloped in the decades that followed.

He lamented that the recent tragic incidents, including a fatal canoe mishap in Yobe State that reportedly claimed over 20 lives, have further highlighted the urgent need for a dedicated agency to handle inland and coastal search-and-rescue operations.

The statement commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing the blue economy at the centre of Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda, a move widely seen as a strategic shift toward maximizing maritime potential.

“The creation of the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy reflects a clear policy direction aimed at harnessing ocean-based resources for national development and economic resilience.

“In line with this vision, the President approved the implementation of recommendations from a comprehensive study by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, which outlined pathways for sustainable blue economy development.

“Despite Nigeria’s vast maritime endowment, the sector contributes less than three per cent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product, a situation analysts attribute largely to insecurity and weak institutional frameworks.

“Persistent threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, crude oil theft, and smuggling continue to undermine investor confidence and significantly reduce national revenue from maritime activities” he reminisenced.

Aloba added that the recent re-election of Nigeria into the International Maritime Organization Council under Category C for the 2026–2027 term has further reinforced the need to align with global maritime standards.

He said, Observers noted that membership in the IMO Council comes with expectations, including the establishment of a professional coast guard capable of meeting international obligations and strengthening collaboration with other maritime nations.

He lamented that the comparative review of other Category C member states shows that Nigeria is lagging behind countries such as the Philippines, Egypt, Indonesia, and Malaysia which operate dedicated coast guard agencies to handle civil maritime responsibilities.